Join us as a panel of leading experts in Michigan’s business and startup sectors discuss expanding opportunities to launch and grow minority-owned businesses. This event is designed for those who are curious about how to start, operate, and expand a minority-led business, along with providing a discussion on available financial loan and incentive opportunities. Following the panel discussion, the floor will be opened for questions from attendees. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. with networking, coffee, and a buffet breakfast, and the panel discussion begins at 9:30 a.m. One-of-a-kind networking opportunities and compelling business content across a wide range of industries and topics await you at every DBusiness Breakfast Series.

Schedule

8:30 AM - Networking and Breakfast

9:30 AM - Panel Discussion led by Ken L. Harris, Ph.D.- President/CEO of (THE) National Business League

Meet the Moderator:

Ken Harris, Ph.D.- President/CEO of (THE) National Business League

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, residing in Washington, D.C., Dr. Kenneth L. Harris, Ph.D., is known for addressing social-economic challenges within the global Black community. Dr. Harris serves as the 16th President/CEO of (THE) National Business League, founded by Dr. Booker T. Washington in 1900, the first and oldest, 123-year-old trade association for Black businesses in American, with access to more than 3.2 million Black-owned businesses throughout the U.S and internationally.

Join Ken Harris, Ph.D. - President/CEO of the National Business League for a panel discussion about scaling minority-owned businesses.

Meet the Panelists:

Racheal Allen

Racheal Allen is a Lean Six Sigma certified strategy, systems, and operations expert with nearly twenty years of experience leading and serving startups and nonprofits. In 2019, she created Operations School, a nonprofit business service organization with a mission to train, empower, and equip BIPOC startup and nonprofit leaders with the skills to successfully manage and scale their organizations by leveraging systems, automation, and delegation strategies. As CEO of OPSIDIA, a management consulting firm that helps its clients operationalize their visions, Racheal leads a diverse team that empowers organizations to build capacity via program design and fractional operations support. Alongside her husband Gerrard, she is also co-founder of Centric Place, a first-of-its-kind incubation space for Black arts, culture, and entrepreneurship in Metro Detroit.

Reginald Dozier

Reginald Dozier, the President and CEO of Lewis & Munday, P.C., one of the oldest Black Owned Law Firms in America. Reginald attended Howard University and graduated from University of Michigan-Dearborn. He is a graduate of the Detroit College of Law. He has served as the Commanding Officer of the Detroit Police Department’s Legal Advisor Section, in addition to positions in medium and large law firms. He also owned and managed a small law firm.

He has and continues to represent Fortune 500 corporations and small business. His clients have included General Motors Corporation, Denny’s Key Bank, Eaton Corporation, JP Morgan Chase, Waste Management, and PepsiCo.

Mr. Dozier is licensed to practice in Michigan. He is also admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court. He is the Past Chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Law Practice Management Section Council. He is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the Wolverine Bar Association and Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit. Among other Awards, he was recognized as a 2023 Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leader in the Law. Reginald is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

Natalie King

Natalie King, Founder, and CEO of Dunamis Clean Energy Partners, LLC, and Dunamis Charge; leading 150+ workers was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Michigan and Northwest Ohio, Notable Leader in Energy by Crain's for 2023 and Corp! Magazine's Most Valuable Entrepreneur for 2023. Dunamis Charge is an alumni of the Stellantis National Black Supplier Development Program and Apple Impact Accelerator Program. The Electric Vehicle charger manufacturer is part of the Cummins CARE BOA (Black Owned Enterprise) Supplier Program and is a Tier One Vendor to DTE Energy. King's ongoing contributions in building the "Biden EV Infrastructure" has led to recognition by the White House through official memos and a personal introduction by President Biden at an SBA conference hosted at the White House.
The EV infrastructure trailblazer is a 2022 TEDx alumnus who earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School. She is also a graduate of the Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth “Building the Minority Business to Scale'' MBE program. She serves as a Board Member of the National Business League and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Energy & Environment Committee. King is also the Chairwoman and a founding member of Blacks in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (BEVI).

Derron Sanders

Derron Sanders is a visionary entrepreneur with 23+ years of experience in energy, real estate, and construction. He serves as Founder/CEO of SG Companies, where he oversees internal operations, business acquisitions, financing, and partnership strategies. "Teamwork makes the Dream Work" drives Mr. Sanders, and he understands that no individual can achieve success alone and a strong team is essential for achieving great results. At SG Companies, he has built a culture of collaboration, where every team member contributes their unique skills and perspectives. Under Mr. Sanders' leadership, SG Companies has become a diversified portfolio of companies, including SG | REAL ESTATE, SG | T2, a joint-venture, and SG | Energy Solutions. The mission is to make life better in the communities they serve, one interaction at a time. Additionally, Mr. Sanders serves on various boards: First Independence Bank, Detroit Regional Chamber and Alma College. He also serves as a Strategic Advisor to Grow Michigan II. Derron Sanders is a leader committed to teamwork and the success of SG Companies. His commitment to building a culture of collaboration and mutual respect has helped build a diversified portfolio of companies and achieve his goal of improving life in the communities he serves.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m. with networking, coffee, and a buffet breakfast.

The program begins at 9:30 a.m.

Presented by:

The Detroit Black Chamber of Commerce

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

ACG Detroit
Alan C. Young & Associates P.C.
Detroit Pistons
Entrepreneurs' Organization
PNC Bank
Lewis & Munday

For Sponsorship inquiries, please contact advertising@hour-media.com

With your ticket purchase, you will receive a 1-year subscription to DBusiness Magazine. This will be mailed to the address provided. This offer will be added to the end of the subscription for current subscribers.